Automatically locked open and closed circuit breaker



June 3 9 J. D. HIL LIARD AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED QPEN AND CLQSED CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed July 8, 1921 Inventor: 0011 D. Hi liard.

latented June 3, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE...

JOHN D. HILLIARD, F SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB '10 GENERAL COMPANY, CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED OPEN AND CLOSED CIRCUIT BREAKER.

Application fled. Italy 8,

To all whom it may cmwem:

Be it known that 1, JOHN D. HILLIARD, a citizen of the United States, residin at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, tate of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatically Locked Open and Closed Circuit Breakers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electrical switches and particularly to those of a high potential type wherein the moving contacts are enclosed in a vessel and are operated by means external thereto. In many of the oil switches in use at the present time, move ment of the contacts is effected by means of rods or similar members which extend through the top or walls of the switch vessel and the arrangement is usually such that in the opening 0 the switch the operating rod moves toward the interior of the vesse In the case of switches carrying considerable current the openin of the circuit causes a high pressure to be eveloped within the vessel by reason of the vaporization and dissocia tion of the oil or otherliquid in which the contacts are immersed, and this pressure acting upon the operating means which passes through the wall of the vessel causes the same to move in a direction to close the switch. If the switch has been tripped open by reason of a short circuit its automatic rec osing may result in a reestablishment of the short circuit, with the result that the system may be considerabl damaged. In high power switches wherein the expulsion of the arc ases from the vessel is retarded and in which there is consequently developed very high pressure the rovision of some means to prevent the rec osing of the switch in the manner described isa matter of urgent necessity. One of the objects of the present invention is to provide such a means which in the present instance serves to lock or otherwise hold the switch contacts separated whenever the switch is open.

Another object is to provide a holding means of this character which will be simple in construction and shall involve but a slight modification of operating means now commonly employed in switches of this type.

Other ob'ects and advantages will appear from th 0 lowing description taken in connection with the accompanyin drawing which represents in side elevation, partly 1921. Serial no. 483,298.

broken away, a switch embodying my invention.

In the drawing 1 and 2 represent respectively the stationary and movable switch contacts and 3 the vessel ada ted to contain oil or similarinsulating flui in which the contacts 1 and 2 are immersed. In the par ticular form of switch illustrated the vessel is constructed to withstand considerably internal pressure and all joints are made itght to prevent the oil being thrown out the vessel when the switch interrupts a heavy short circuit. It is understood that in the type of switch here shown there are two stationary contacts and two movable contacts the latter being carried at the ends of an insulating rod 4, Rod 4 is secured to and adapted to be operated by means of a metal rod 5 which asses through an opening in the cover 6 o1 the vessel 3. Suitable packing 7 is provided to secure a tight connection between the rod 5and cover 6 of the vessel 3. Rod 5 is secured at its upper end to the outer end of the lever 8 the latter bein pivoted to a stationa frame 9. Secured to the lever 8 is the lin 10 of a toggle 1011, the remaining link 11 of this toggle being pivoted'at 12 to the frame. Toggle links 13 and 14 are each pivpted at 15 to a rod 16 which asses through the frame at 17 and is secured at 18 to the operatin handle 19. The operating means thus far escribed is that commonly employed in switches of this type. It is understood, of course, that means are provided b which the switch contacts are biased to circuit opening position and in the normal operation the clrcuit is opened by buckling the toggle comprising links 13 and 14, which then permits the lever 8 to fall and the contacts to se arate.

It is also understood that t e o crating means may embody the usual trip-lies feature which will enable the buckhng of the toggle and the openin of the circuit regardless of the position 0 the operating handle. As the particular trip-free feature is no part of my present invention it will not be further described.

At 10 I have shown an extension of the link 14. which forms a link of the second toggle. This toggle is completed by means of a link 11 pivoted at 20 to extension 10 of the link 14 and at 12 to the frame. It will be noted that when the switch is open by reason of the buckling of the toggle 13-14 and the swingin down of the lever 8, the toggle l01l wil become strai ht. When the contacts 12 are full separated the pressure within the receptac e 3 which might tend to move the rod 5 upwardly through the cover of the receptacle will fail to accomplish this result because of its inability to buckle the toggle 1011. Should the operator, however, move the operating means to straighten the to gle 13-14 this will immediately effeet a uckling of the toggle 1011 and permit the lever 8 to-swing upwardly and the contacts to close.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is z- 1. An electric switch comprising a closed vessel adapted to contain an insulating fluid, cooperating contacts in said vessel, a contact operating member extending into said vessel and adapted to move outwardl therefrom to close said switch, a tog le or preventing movement of said mem or to open said switch and a toggle for preventing movement of said member to close said switch, said toggles having a link member common to each.

2. An electric switch comprising a closed vessel adapted to contain an insulating fluid, coo crating relatively movable contacts in sai vessel, 9. contact operating member extending into said vessel and movable inwardly and outwardly therefrom respectively to open and to close said switch, and two airs of toggle links for locking said mem er against said movements, one link of each of said pairs of links comprising a unitary member, the construction being such that when one pair of links is straight the other pair is buckled.

3. An electric switch comprising a closed vessel adapted to contain an insulating fluid, movable and stationary contacts in said vessel, an operating rod slidably mounted in said vessel and movable outwardly to cause said contacts to engage, an operating member for said rod, a lever pivoted at a point intermediate its ends to said member, a link pivoted to one end of said lever and forming therewith a toggle for holding said contacts in closed position, a link pivoted to the other end of said lever and forming a toggle therewith for holding said contacts in open position and means for actuating said lever.

4. A switch adapted to break high ower circuits, a stationary frame, a vessel a a ted to contain insulating fluid constructe to withstand high internal pressure, contacts within said vessel, an operating member for said contacts extending into said vessel and movable toward the interior thereof to separate said contacts, a trip-free toggle connected to said member and adapted to lock said contacts in closed position, said toggle having one of its links extended,a link pivoted to the extending link and to the frame, and forming with said extending link a second tog le, said second toggle serving to lock sai contacts in open position and means for moving said extended link.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 7th day of July, 1921.

JOHN D. HILLIARD. 

